Jun 14, 2022

Hughes Announces Recipients of its 17th Annual Scholarship Program

the seven recipients of the Hughes scholarship

TUCSON, Ariz. (June 1, 2022) Hughes Federal Credit Union announced today the names of seven high school seniors who will receive a $2,000 scholarship in support of their continuing education from the credit union’s Annual Scholarship Program. In celebration of its 70th anniversary this year, Hughes increased its annual award amount from $10,000 to $14,000.

The scholarship recipients are:

  • Camille Beeson - Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Oro Valley, AZ
  • Lainey Caswell - Andrara Polytech, Tucson, AZ
  • Haeleigh Chipman - Sabino High School, Tucson, AZ
  • Reuel Florendo - Andrada Polytech, Tucson, AZ
  • Sierra Jenkins - Marana High School, Tucson, AZ
  • Ethan Jones - Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Oro Valley, AZ
  • Ashley Thommana - Montgomery Blair High School, Rockville, MD
“There’s no better way to celebrate Hughes’ 70th anniversary than continuing our tradition of supporting paths to higher education for our student members,” Hughes Business Development & Community Relations Manager Irlanda Cuevas said. “We exist to make a positive difference in the financial lives of our members and this is just one of the ways we work to give back.”

Since 2005, Hughes has granted over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving high school graduates entering college or trade school.

The scholarship was open to all high school seniors who were members of the credit union. Students were required to complete an online educational course via Hughes’ financial literacy resource, MoneyCoach for Students, available on the Hughes website. Students submitted an essay and/or video answering the question, “What is one financial habit you learned from MoneyCoach for Students, and how do you think it will help you in the future?” The winners were scored and selected by a panel of 9 judges.

In addition to its scholarship program, Hughes actively supports youth financial literacy through its educational partnership with local school districts and community associations including the Girls Scouts of Southern Arizona, Take Charge Cats and Earn to Learn.